Are Evangelicals Gaining the World and Losing their Own Souls?

We are living in interesting times. We are witnessing moral erosion in governments. But no-one anticipated that Evangelical leaders would steep so low as to justify infidelity in the guise of political policy or material acquisition. I will lay parity to three issues: Rising moral turpitude in the Age of Trump; Evangelical secularism; and Corruption unrestrained.

RISING MORAL TURPITUDE IN THE AGE OF TRUMP

In any epoch, where great privilege is given, great responsibility is demanded. In the old ages, Babylon, Greece, Rome, British and now American empires, those who conquered the world also had a great responsibility to influence behavior. But even at its vilest echelon, leaders of empires and mighty nations knew that their example was necessary to the sanity, stability and vitality of their nations.

Powerful leaders, such as presidents of the United States, do not just say, do or react to things. Whatever they say, do or decide has, directly or indirectly, impact on their people and the world at large. In the past, America has prided in electing men who, admittedly have been weak, but who were expected (in fact) to display great moral stamina in the governance of their people’s affairs. They were expected to stand on principles, respect the Rule of Law and lead their people with unquestionable integrity. Trump is eroding all these, slowly and surely. The American president has failed to stand on principles, is brutalizing press freedom, cannot admit to his own moral foibles, has uttered degrading and racist statements against minority groups, women and immigrants, and has taken advantage of a materialistic evangelical church in America. For sure, this may fulfill some political point, but in the end, the world is at risk of demagoguism and lost moral vivacity.

EVANGELICAL SECULARISM

Jesus said that the love of money, not money itself, is the root of all evil. Wasn’t he right? Generally, the Evangelical church is becoming more secular and devoid of moral gravitas than in any age. The working mantra in many an Evangelical church is hypocrisy. It is deficient in strong leaders who cannot be tossed to and from by the wild winds of enticements. All these leaders are preoccupied with is “money”: money for this, money for the kingdom, money for material “blessings.” They are willing to support politicians who promise them free money or who will “align their policy according to the Bible.” This last issue is very deceptive. A politician ought only to recite “The Lord’s Prayer” or declare he is anti-abortion or anti-same-sex marriage, and these leaders will be bought. The result is that they will shut their eyes to the moral short-comings of the politician and accept all of his incendiary and tribal politics as truth. They will justify his election as the will of God (but they will not accept all those previous presidents and politicians before him as God’s choices, too).

CORRUPTION UNRESTRAINED

The marriage of the first two points will only strengthen corruption, especially in economically struggling and politically undemocratic nations. Why, because America (in its own weaknesses) is generally seen as a moral leader in the world. With its being weak on morality under Trump, authoritarians all over the world will justify their own behaviors. They will abuse the law, discard principles, undermine justice, erode morality and engage in corrupt practices. They will not fear reprisal, because the United States are themselves under siege. Why again, because the Christian voice which has sanitized morality and provided fidelity to politics is wanting. Church leaders are more interested in “making money” than in Christ-like leadership. Church leaders are lukewarm, complicity, unforgiving (unless the forgiveness will create them opportunities with political echelons), and in the name of God, are stealing their congregants’ wealth and savings!

I posit that the worst culprit of this moral erosion and corruption will be Africa. The West, and to some extent, South-East Asia, may be able to weather this moral tsunami. The West will manage Trumpism, because they have strong institutions and growing free voice, but Africa may not.

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3 Responses to Are Evangelicals Gaining the World and Losing their Own Souls?

The moral teachings of Jesus Christ have over the centuries twisted and mixed with commandments of men, ancient fables and even doctrines of demons to create what we call christianity today. Ok doctrines of demons looks hard on face value but when people are maimed and generations incarcerated in the name of God cannot be teachings from above. It is my very strong belief that the message we call bible cannot and has never been good news to all peoples of the world. The mare appearance of words like barbarians in the bible shows you that there are a lot things in the bible that have nothing to do with good news.
We are able to see through a lot of things today because of information. If it wasnt for the two senators who confirmed Trump really did say those words nothing would have been known. There is no way god can punish people not believing so called Gospel today if it is not able to produce the same results it produced thousands of years back. Yes I believe a good portion of the bible as a good moral guide for living in harmony with my fellow man but it is completely impossible to use it like a mathematical formula. The problem we have is simply that a lot of us have been brainwashed to the point of confessing and believing things that dont make sense.

I gladly take a scholarly view of your preamble in what appears to be an interesting thesis. The 3 vices calmly mentioned Rising immorality, evangelical secularism and corruption are indeed an eyesore and blatant blemish on the Christendom.
The loss of moral fibre is fast approaching alarming levels in almost all but few congregations even in Africa where radical Christian faith has been tense. The blame goes both ways – the devil and man. Between the two, man bears a huge responsibility and burden; too sacramental to be ignored or flashed into mediocrity at a price of #metoo, gender equality, gender serotype and rights. Apostle Paul warned his spiritual son (a topic for another day) to be weary of the last days. Apostle Peter also cautioned the church to watch out for such impropriety.
Secularism is as old as the fall of man. Enoch the 7th from Adam is reported from ancient manuscripts to have spent his 300 years preaching against secularism. This has always been a danger to holiness among the faithful. So suggest that secularism is on the rise among evangelicals is an understatement because the assault has always been on the saints.
Corruption thrives on corrupt mortal bodies.

The book of 1 Kings Chapter 16 verse 29 to 34,1Kings Chapter 17 Verse 1 tells it all. The foregoing verses outline the iniquities of King Ahab’s reign and Prophet Elijah’s rebuke.
Surprisingly in Zambia we have allegedly men of the collar who have aligned themselves with corrupt and thieving politicians or rather lined their pockets just like the prophets of Baal above.

The only solution is to truly turn to God by both politicians in power and pretenders like certain Pentecostal Bishops and certain Roman Catholic priests who have teamed up with politicians and embraced corruption and thieving at the expense of poor Zambians 1 Kings chapter 18 refers. Surprisingly even Nigerian drug trafficking false prophets or profiteers are on the band wagon like the prophets of Baal.

When you politician are causing deaths of poor Zambians through your corruption and thieving by inflating prices of road making , fire tenders and ambulances ( The seizure of Naboth’s Vineyard) and sharing the spoils with the above mentioned clergy ( prophets of Baal) God is watching. God may not punish you now if you repent but He is going to visit your children 1 King chapter 21 refers.